Delusionality of beliefs among 50 adult females with severe and extreme anorexia nervosa upon admission to an acute medical stabilization facility.

We aimed to evaluate whether the content of eating/body image-related beliefs in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) was associated with important aspects of eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. Females with AN completed assessments within 96 hours of admission to an inpatient medical stabilization program. Study staff administered the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale and participants completed self-report measures. We derived belief content domains using an inductive approach and examined associations between beliefs and clinical variables. The following belief categories emerged (% with a belief in that category): body image beliefs (64%), food beliefs (30%), body function beliefs (20%), rejection of illness beliefs (12%), morality beliefs (10%), and control beliefs (6%). No one belief domain was significantly associated with greater delusional intensity. However, findings indicate that greater delusionality was generally associated with worse ED psychopathology.

Delusional intensity as a prognostic indicator among individuals with severe to extreme anorexia nervosa hospitalized at an acute medical stabilization program.

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorder-related beliefs among individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) often approach delusional intensity. Research to date on delusional beliefs in AN has been cross sectional. Thus, it is unknown how the intensity of delusional beliefs changes over time and if such change has prognostic value. METHOD: We assessed 50 individuals with severe to extreme AN (≥18 years old; M [SD] body mass index =12.7[1.3] kg/m2 ) at an inpatient medical stabilization facility within 96 hr of admission; 35 (70%) also completed the assessment at discharge (M[SD] = 25.53[13.21] days). Participants completed the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale and a battery of self-report measures of eating disorder-related psychopathology. RESULTS: The admission-to-discharge decrease in delusional intensity was not significant (p = .592; Hedges g = .10). Tests of predictive effects indicated that higher delusional intensity at intake predicted higher fear of fatness and restrictive eating, two hallmark features of AN, but not BMI, body checking, feared food avoidance, eating disorder-related impairment, depression, binge eating, or purging behavior at discharge. DISCUSSION: Although the delusional intensity of eating disorder beliefs did not significantly improve over this relatively brief interval, delusional intensity may be associated with the severity of central eating disorder attitudes and behaviors. Delusional intensity may therefore be a negative prognostic indicator, possibly warranting further treatment. Future research should examine changes in delusional intensity over longer intervals and test whether specifically targeting delusional beliefs improves treatment outcomes among individuals with AN.

Metformin abuse: A novel and dangerous purging behavior in anorexia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of severe multisystem illness, near death and permanent kidney failure in a woman with a history of anorexia nervosa-binge purge type due to abuse of prescription metformin, an approved oral diabetes medication obtained surreptitiously via the internet. METHOD: Psychiatric and medical records were reviewed from the medical care of this patient. A literature search was also performed on prescription medication abuse as a mode of purging. DISCUSSION: Metformin abuse in a patient with an eating disorder as a purging behavior is a rarely reported, albeit very dangerous entity. Clinicians treating eating disorders should increasingly be aware of the potential abuse of prescription medications, unapproved for weight loss but which have weight loss, as a reported side effect. This is particularly important as the ability to obtain prescription medications via the internet, without a prescription, becomes more ubiquitous.

Personality characteristics and medical impact of stimulant laxative abuse in eating disorder patients-a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Stimulant laxative abuse as a purging behavior can be profound in those with eating disorders. However, the psychopathology leading to stimulant laxative abuse is poorly understood. Furthermore, the medical impact of stimulant laxative abuse has not been studied in this population. METHODS: Six individuals abusing stimulant laxatives underwent a barium enema to assess for evidence of the cathartic colon syndrome and 29 individuals engaging in any purging behaviors completed the Tri-dimensional Personality Questionnaire-Short Form, Sensitivity to Punishment/Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires. RESULTS: Three of the six patients completing the barium enema had the radiographic findings consistent with cathartic colon. Individuals engaging in laxative abuse showed higher Novelty Seeking compared to those engaging in other forms of purging, and those engaging in any form of purging behavior showed greater Sensitivity to Punishment compared to Sensitivity to Reward. There was also the presence of greater Harm Avoidance than Reward Dependence in this population. CONCLUSION: There may be different psychopathology that contributes to the abuse of stimulant laxatives than that associated with other forms of purging. Regardless of the driving factor, further research is warranted to discover best therapeutic interventions given the potential to develop the cathartic colon syndrome with ongoing use of stimulant laxatives. Cathartic colon is a condition whereby the colon, or lower intestine, is converted into an inert tube incapable of propagating fecal matter. It is thought to develop due to over-use of stimulant laxatives. However, it is unclear if this condition truly exists and whether it contributes to the constipation experienced by individuals with eating disorders who have extensive past histories of abusing laxatives. It is also unclear if laxative abuse presents with different medical complications than other forms of purging. The purpose of this study is to determine whether radiographic evidence of cathartic colon can be found in eating disorder patients abusing stimulant laxatives, whether there are different medical complications with laxative abuse versus other forms of purging, and to examine the psychological composition of individuals who engage in severe laxative abuse. Specifically, the authors investigated the interrelationship between Harm Avoidance and Reward Dependence, with emphasis on gaining a better understanding of Reward Dependence by examining both Sensitivity to Reward and Sensitivity to Punishment in patients who engage in severe laxative abuse. Our findings suggest that stimulant laxative abuse may cause the development of cathartic colon changes and that there may be unique psychopathology that contributes to the abuse of stimulant laxatives. Given the higher Novelty Seeking personality-dimension in those abusing laxatives, it is possible that this purging behavior may be considered addiction-like in nature, which would have distinct treatment implications.